Never caught one, but they are a very cool fish. They have numerous large pharyngeal teeth (teeth in the throat) that they use to crush mollusks etc. Really neat to see those.
Never caught one, but they are a very cool fish. They have numerous large pharyngeal teeth (teeth in the throat) that they use to crush mollusks etc. Really neat to see those.
I spend a little time on the mountain, I spend a little time on the hill...
The first one I remember catching was sightfishing off a dock at Lake West Okoboji in NW Iowa. It was 19.5" long. I was 13, and my grandparents had taken my cousin and my sister and I up there to vacation for a week. The resort had a weekly contest...biggest (longest) fish of the week would win a prize. Even though I was nervous all week as I watch guys fishing from boats bring back nice smallmouth bass and some northern pike, I ended up winning! I got a nice new Diawa spincast rod & reel.
Because of this, Freshwater Drum will always be special to me.
I did a little research trying to figure out how much the 26" fish in my picture would weigh. I never did find a good conversion, since I didn't measure its girth, just its length. But I did discover that even though the can grow to 40-50lbs (very rarely), my fish was a very large specimen and would likely have been at least 15 years old! Plus, I also discovered it qualifies me for an Iowa Master Angler Award. SWEEET!
David Merical
St. Louis, MO
Haven't got one on a fly, yet, but I've caught quite a few on jigs with plastic grubs, so I know they'll readily take a fly. Drum in these parts average roughly 2 to 6 or 7 pounds and their characteristic battle mode seems to be an initial drive for deep water that is very persistent. They really make the drag sing. I have noticed that they lose steam after the initial bursts of energy. But if you tie into one you better have your drag set properly.
Enjoy them. They're great fun.
Bill
My best luck has been on small minnow patterns, very sparsely tied clousers, crawfish, and large dark nymphs. I've eaten a few, a bit oily, but not bad. On neat little fact, their native range is the largest north to south range of any fish out there and can be found from Manitoba clear south to Guatemala. Very adaptable critters indeed.
If it swims and eats, it'll eat a fly.
I want to thank all of you for the education. FishnDave the pictures are great and the others have been a basket of information on this fish.
As far as I know there are not any drums in Oregon, but if there was I would like to give them a try.
Thanks Again
Tim
My Dad caught one when I was a kid. We weren't sure what it was, but my Great-Uncle knew what it was and he kept and ate it. If memory serves he said they were more bone than fish? Maybe somebody with more experience and a better memory will come along and tell us for sure. I bet they'd be a lot of fun on a fly.
hNt
"If we lie to the government, it's called a felony, when they lie to us, it's called politics." Bill Murray
Thanks Mike. I caught this one while fishing for white bass , largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and walleyes that were up on a shallow flat chasing shad! It was a great fight! I've caught others on lures, so I'm sure I can get one on a fly someday...but I'll definitely have to be in the "right place at the right time"!
David Merical
St. Louis, MO
I catch drum quite frequently while fishing for stripers in the Arkansas River.
Most of mine were caught on clouser minnows or rabbit strip streamers.
Steve
Last edited by biot midge; 01-07-2011 at 01:29 AM.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went"
Will Rogers